Music and dance as Mayor’s Cup wraps up in style

It was all song and dance at the close of the Buffalo City Mayor’s Cup on Friday with local and national music acts giving the youth a show.

DAZZLING AUDIENCE: Anathi performs during the closing ceremony of the Mayor’s Cup at the Buffalo City Stadium Picture: MICHAEL PINYANA

The sporting event, which encompassed five different sporting codes including boxing, soccer, netball, volleyball and tennis, took place at Buffalo City Stadium on Friday morning.

The aim of the tournament was to select a team to represent the metro in the South African Local Government Association games happening in November.

The tournament was open to youths from the ages of 14 to 19.

Once BCM mayor Xola Pakati officially closed the games with the handing out of medals, the concert began.

The stage was lit up by artists such as Sands, Yung Reezy, twerking queen Zintle Kwaaima, rapper Anathi and the “Super Mega” himself, AKA, who performed to hundreds of young people from in and around BCM.

Chairman of the Buffalo City Youth Council Sipho Kilani, who helped organise the event, said the aim of the day was to keep the youth off the streets by keeping them occupied.

“Because this entire day was dedicated to the youth it was decided that Youth Day was the appropriate day to host this,” he said.

“The sport is now done and dusted and the teams have been chosen.

“The entertainment part of this day is in an effort to keep the youth out of the shebeens and out of trouble so they can celebrate and enjoy their youth here together.

“Having both the sports and the entertainment on the same day is a holistic approach we decided on.”

Attendee Siyabonga Kangela said he and his friends had come to the event because they had wanted to have fun together while commemorating the events of June 16.

“We are here to enjoy the entertainment and the event is great so far. My friends and I are having fun but we have also not forgotten the importance of June 16 and remembering what the youth of 1976 did for us.

“What makes this event even better is that there is no alcohol allowed in here,” he said.

Liza Ntoni said she had heard about the event via posters and announcements on social media.

She said she and her friends had decided to come out to listen to some music.

“I mostly came out here to see Zintle Kwaaiman. I love her. She really does it for me and to see her live is the best feeling ever,” Ntoni said, with Siwaphiwe Wonti adding that the music concert had given them something to look forward to.

“We’re all having such a nice time. We would be sleeping if we weren’t here.”

Kilani said the event had gone off better than expected.

“The youth have really come out, which is great. There have been no glitches as yet and nothing negative to report,” he concluded. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za

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